I think I have an upgrading addiction....

[novakjr]

I really don't have a specialty set, so the closest for me would be my HOF collection... Upgrading that set to me isn't necessarily getting a better conditioned card, but rather getting an older one of a player that I already have. To an extent, it's gotten in the way of me progressing the set in terms of completion, because I always end up coming back to the same players. Sometimes I wish I'd just get it over with and just finish up the set with a bunch of '80's Pacific sets or something, but I just can't do it, because I know I wouldn't be satisfied, and would still keep trying to get it older and older.. It would be nice to put a little more focus into something else, like the Topps complete run, or maybe a new set altogether..

[Northviewcats]

I'm working on the T206 set, but I'm in no hurry to finish it. If I see a good deal on a card and I already have it I will buy it anyway and sell the lower grade card. The first year that I started pursing the monster I bought almost 100 cards most of them ungraded. Now I buy a couple of cards a month, but I only buy graded 5-6s. If I could afford higher graded cards I would buy all NM. I spend as much energy upgrading what I have as adding new cards to the collection. I like quality over quantity. Sometimes I feel like I'm buying art. I don't mind spending more if I feel like I'm getting quality. There is an antique store in Stratford, Ontario that I go to every year. The old lady who owns the store has a saying that expresses my collecting philosophy: "quality never goes out of style."

Best regards,

Joe

[ChiefBenderForever]

Upgrade: evil necessity or collector curse ? I would say just part of the game and as you get deeper and see the difference in what you thought was a wonderful card now compared to one much nicer you just can't help but continue to get nicer stuff and get more and more picky and then start passing on cards you might need in order to wait for a nicer one even if it might take years since you know all you will want to do is find a better one anyways. Sometimes definately worth picking up that beater knowing you will replace when are able to but all just part of the fun. Also nice to have duplicates to compare to each other then when the time is right let it go to another collection for someone else to enjoy..............

[rhettyeakley]

I have been doing this for many years with my E254 Colgan's set. I am always buying collections (large and small) of these and always check my new ones against my old ones and keep the best one for myself. Some cards have been switched out 5-6 times. It is also this way that I have found some new "head size variations" as I am always checking to see if there are any slight changes between the cards. I think my set would grade pretty well at this point (on average) if I actually cared to ever do that. **Shameless plug alert** I still need 30 for the master set so if anyone has some I need let me know.
-Rhett

Colgan's set:
http://www.starsofthediamond.com/colgans.html